James M. Shackelford to Charles Cruft, February 18, 1862

Sir: Below I give you a list of the killed, wounded, and missing in the Twenty-fifth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers in the battle at Dover, on the 13th instant.

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Pursuant to your order, on Saturday morning, the 13th instant, I proceeded with my regiment in the direction of General MeClernand’s extreme right. Following the guide you sent me, I passed General MeOlernand at his headquarters, and he ordered me to go at doublequick. The guide continued with me, leading me within range of the enemy’s guns, until we passed in the rear of one of our batteries on the hill, when the guide left me, directing me to proceed around the hill. I then proceeded, in utter ignorance of the point at which I was needed and the position of the enemy, until I came up in the rear of one of General MeClernand’s regiments, when the colonel came running down to me and appealed to me to come to his rescue, stating that his men were about out of ammunition. I halted my regiment, formed them, and led them up in the face of a most galling and terrific fire. My officers and men marched upon it with the coolness and firmness of regulars, and opened a most deadly fire upon the enemy.

After some time two officers came up, and, without consulting me, ordered my men to forward down the line. My men then moved down the line under a most deadly fire from the enemy. When I again opened fire upon them, and whilst my men were fighting as bravely and gallantly as men ever fought, some officers came upon my extreme right and ordered them cease firing ; that some of my men were firing upon them off to the right of my regiment, moving through and breaking my line, when my command fell back, a number of the officers and men fighting as they retired. The regiment was subsequently reformed and entered the action.

Respectfully, yours, s